I debated writing this review because who has the timeeee or energy, but turns out, I do! This was…read moremy partner's and my 5 year anniversary, and we'd moved to the neighborhood a few months ago and were thrilled to have such a highly rated restaurant right around the corner. From almost day one, we agreed we'd save up to celebrate our anniversary here, since the price point is a bit steep. We made a reservation, and the day came with pouring rain. We ran over, soaked but excited. The person we assumed was the host greeted us kindly and said they'd do something special once we mentioned the anniversary. The whole restaurant was full and everyone, guests and staff, were all watching the World Cup projected on the wall, which we honestly loved. That kind of community energy, everyone coming together over the game, is genuinely a great vibe. The problem was there was only one server for the entire floor, and it took 15 minutes for anyone to approach our table, in a restaurant that isn't even large. Meanwhile, the host and chef stood by the door watching the game, seemingly unbothered by the one employee trying to manage a full room. We eventually asked the host if we should just order at the bar since we'd been waiting so long. Our server finally came over, was warm and kind, and got our order out quickly, but every interaction after that felt rushed because all the pressure of the room was on them alone. We never received anything "special" like we were told we would, which honestly would've been fine either way, but overall the night had this feeling of carelessness in the experience. We ate, paid, and left not long after. Honestly this isn't a knock on the laid back energy of the place, we loved that part. It's more that for a restaurant this highly rated and this pricey, we wanted the experience to feel like it matched the price point, especially on a night we'd specifically saved up for. That's on us too for not checking out the vibe beforehand instead of building a big occasion around it. We just don't get to treat ourselves to places like this often, so we were really excited to experience the food and atmosphere everyone raves about, and it didn't quite land the way we hoped. Anyways, giving this four stars because obviously the food was great, and our server was clearly overwhelmed, not careless, so I have high hopes they'd shine on a different night. Just something to keep in mind if you're planning a specifically special occasion here to maybe rethink it and choose this for a fun Friday with friends instead.

My partner and I had dinner here last night, our interest piqued by it's Michelin Bib Gourmand…read morerecognition. At 5:30, it was quiet aside from the music and a few patrons dining. There are some half booths, tables and seating along the bar. There is an area to hang coats by the door. It's super moody in here with candles on the table and furniture made to look like painted tree stumps. To drink, we had the Michelada Clásica (probably the best michelada I've had in a while), La Ultima Palabra, some other cocktail and finally a glass of red titled something like Vinarství Martín Vajčner (they have a rotating wine list). Everything was fantastic. The same goes for the food. By the time our dinner arrived, the whole restaurant smelled delicious, like corn masa and queso fresco. We started with the sopes. These were perfection. Two little corn masa circles topped with plantains that were just the right amount of sweet (not too much), beans, cheese and an accompanying sauce. For our entrees, my boyfriend had the Chileatole, which can only be described as a truly healing soup (would get this if you're also trying to eat healthier. The vegetables in it were very fresh and tasty). I had the Roti Potato Tacos Dorados which were amazing. The potatoes were seasoned with curry powder I believe, making it really reminiscent of an Indian dish and the sauce was just right! Our server was great and consistently checked up on us, the food arrived on time and we really had no notes other than I wish the menu was bigger! I hope it rotates soon as I'd love to see different options.

The taco Tuesday / happy hour deal was great! $3 tacos, $7-10 drinks like beers and margs!…read more They have cool seating indoors and outdoors, and the food was quite good with generous portions. Great & friendly service!

I don't drink so I got tacos at a birthday party. Just ok. Nothing amazing. The sauce saved the Al…read morepastor tacos. The staff was super on it though for a big party. I was impressed with them. Great service and very thorough.

Chela is one of the best Mexican restaurants that I've been to and I'm incredibly lucky that it's…read moreclose to home and has an extremely friendly and welcoming staff. Everyone that works there is super attentive and for how busy they are they always make sure to check up on your table. Their tacos are extremely delicious, they don't hold back with make sure each taco is full of any kind of meat that you get! Full of flavor and just looking at them reminds you why they're the best. Some other notable things that you should get is the quesadillas and the nachos they have. I'll have to keep coming back to try other things. Great place for sporting events as well as I was here with a group to watch Brazil vs Morocco and stayed to watch the Knicks win right after and become champions!

I really enjoyed my experience in this establishment. Definitely was worth the trek from Uptown…read moreManhattan. This neighborhood gem offers an industrialized minimalist form of decor with pops of color and art. Cozy but roomy, the bar area had mostly 2 seater tables and a few with high chairs. We recently went for a birthday brunch. Restaurant Week was still in effect but we decided to choose from the regular brunch menu. Place was low key and giving neighborhood vibes. The service was 10 STARS! Our waitress was extremely attentive and kind. We were also checked on by a second staff member who I think may have been a manager but cannot be certain. We started with cocktails and they serve chips and salsa gratis. I had the Jalapeno and Hibiscus Margarita and my friend ordered the Pepper Margarita with Strawberry and Chipotle. Mine was a bit on the sweet side without a hint of tequila. My friend's drink definitely was the better of the two. Not overly sweet and definitely a flavor of tequila was present. We also ordered a guacamole. I must say it was quite small and barely served 2 people. I suggest if more than 2 guests are part of the experience, order more than one. For my entree, I requested a market salad and 2 veggie tacos with a side of birria consume. Salad was very fresh and I am sure was made to order as opposed to premade a week prior and waiting in a fridge to be served. My tacos were average but satisfying. The consume was a bit disappointing as it was more of a water/broth based and not of a typical gravy consistency. It was not exciting. My friend's entree was the highlight of the experience. She had the brisket quesadilla. Never have I seen a quesadilla with a crispy outside such as this. A culinary masterpiece indeed. She consumed it all and not one complaint afterward. Delish. We did receive a complimentary Churro plate for the birthday celebration. They were drizzled with caramel and berries. Served warm, they were a dream for the palate. I did use the bathroom which was a single stall. It was clean enough but not well lit. The biggest downfall of my experience was the temperature of the restaurant. I understand it is summer, however, there was no A/C and the inside was extremely hot. I sweated through my entire experience. Even the bathroom felt like 100 degrees. We did not complain but our waitress noticed and brough a fan out to circulate the air. They do have ceiling fans but honestly I did not feel them. The management/owner should consider more temperature control methods during the hotter months as it was quite uncomfortable. To sum it up, I thought this experience was mostly positive and would patronize it again.

Yummy drinks and amazing guacamole - like woah. The ceviche was good too and the croquettes were…read morejust fine. The vibe is really nice and perfect for ending or starting your night out with friends or a date night. The bathroom was insanely cute I would literally live there. We put our name down on a Friday night and waited like an 2 hours. The host was kind of rude though about it

Came here later than standard dinner time on a Friday (around 930 ish?) and no wait. Drink menu is…read moreincredible was a big fan, and the kitchen is open late. Got a smattering of dishes and all were quite tasty. Will be coming back.

Two stars for the backyard. Absolutely the most average Tex-Mex food in the area. Nice people,…read moredecent service, but aggressively mid. Look at the tortillas. Store-bought averageness.

3.5 stars My friends…read morehad been raving about Lobo for years. It was their neighborhood spot that they would frequent themselves, but also the place to which they would bring all of their guests. After turning down several opportunities to join them in the far off land of Brooklyn, I finally agreed to make the trek and give the restaurant a shot. The Cobble Hill area was really charming, and Lobo was located on one of the main streets that was packed with restaurants, coffeeshops, and small retailers. When I arrived at Lobo, I did not see my friends in the bar area on the ground floor and was told to check the back garden. I found my group out in the quiet, cozy yard and joined them at the spacious table. The weather was a bit chilly, especially as the night wore on, and it was even raining at one point. However, there was a covering that completely shielded us from the elements. In addition, despite our being outside, the friendly staff was diligent about checking in and making sure we had everything we needed. Since my companions had been at the table for a bit by the time I had arrived, they already had beverages in front of them, so I needed to catch up. I ordered a house Margarita without specifying a particular brand of tequila. Even with their default spirit, the drink was very strong. It also used their homemade sour mix, which was, thankfully, more sour than it was sweet. Our drinks paired nicely with the complementary, spectacular tortilla chips and zesty salsa. When it came to my meal, I was unsure of what to order, since the reviews had been very mixed, most either being 5-stars or 2-stars with comments about items being "bland". I decided to go with the grilled Chicken Fajitas, which arrived on a standard plate, rather than a sizzling platter. While that was not a great sign, the chicken actually wound up being enjoyable and certainly not bland. Plus, it was not at all greasy, like fajitas can often be. Accompanying the poultry strips on the plate were freshly sauteed onions and green peppers, a mound of seasoned rice, and smoky refried beans, which were all tasty. I typically prefer black beans, which were not an option here, but the refried worked out well. Separately, I received a container of flour tortillas (though I wished they had soft corn ones) and a plate with guacamole, pico de gallo, serrano peppers, lettuce, shredded cheese, and sour cream. I agreed with some other reviewers that the guacamole was more like mashed avocado, as it was very under-seasoned. The pico was also oddly sweet, and the tomatoes were mushy. Despite these minor critiques, I found that the food surpassed my expectations that had been established from other reviews. I would be willing to make the trip to Lobo again in the future. **Note: The restaurant is cash only!

Great service and good drinks! We were welcomed and seated right away. Wonderful experience at the…read morebar. Fun decor and ambiance!

We stopped by on a rainy Saturday afternoon with the family (4 of us), and the restaurant was…read moresurprisingly empty. The first thing we noticed was how freezing it was inside. We asked if the AC could be turned up, but were told they'd have to shut it off completely. My husband works in HVAC, so we knew that wasn't really the case, but we let it go. We started with a pitcher of margaritas, which was definitely the highlight of the meal. They came in the cutest cups, were well made, and had a nice kick to them. I ordered the chicken nachos because I almost always judge a Mexican restaurant by its nachos. The chips tasted fresh and were perfectly crisp, and I appreciated that they used white meat chicken. Unfortunately, the overall dish just lacked flavor, so I ended up leaving a good portion behind. My older daughter ordered a steak burrito and simply requested no onions or peppers. Somewhere along the way there was a misunderstanding because she was served what was basically steak and cheese, with the rice and beans on the side instead of inside the burrito. My younger daughter enjoyed her chicken nuggets and fries, and my husband ordered the fajitas, which he seemed to like. Overall, the experience was just okay. There wasn't anything that made us eager to return. The margaritas were great, but the food and overall experience didn't leave a lasting impression. Unfortunately, this isn't a place we'd come back to.

Lovely decor, friendly service, and surprising culinary flavors that elevate classic orders into…read morethe unexpected. Happy Hour on a Friday included $5 draft beer and $8 margaritas. We were aiming for a vegan shared dinner, so we went for two mushroom corn tacos and a shared plate of nachos- no cheese/dairy/meat/egg. The nachos were pleasantly surprising. Thick crunchy corn chips that can handle a lot of toppings. The avocado sauce was a tasty flavorful replacement for not having cheese, the purple cabbage looked raw but was lightly pickled and added a nice tangy punch over the black beans and pico de gallo. The mushroom tacos were marinated or sautéed in seasoning and served in a warm corn soft shell - street taco size - with a spicy green tomatillo style salsa and lime wedge, Nice selection of craft beer on draft like Founders and Coney Island, along with the expected Modelo. The classic margarita was served in a rocks glass and I went for a Tajin rim to spice it up. Everything was great and I wouldn't hesitate to come back with friends!

Go try it out!! Amazing food and service! Thank you…read moreMauricio and Noel! My favorite are the shrimp tacos, the steak burrito and the pizza!

Any time I have a show at Barclays, I always make it a point to stop here first for dinner. Bandido…read morehas a later happy hour (until 7pm) and has excellent margaritas with a variety of flavors as well as the option to make your marg spicy. It's an affordable spot with decently sized portions of great quality Mexican food. It's a quaint spot and can get slammed but the staff is still very attentive.

We went to see a show at Barclays and this spot had solid reviews. They did not disappoint…read more The place is completely packed. One server, one busboy, one bartender, two cooks and a dishwasher. Six people. They cranked out perfect drink after drink and dish after dish for the 90 minutes we were there. Oh and the world cup is on the tv too. Perfect corner bar vibe too. This place is loud and fun. Enchiladas were spot on and couldn't be more authentic. I had a salmon tostada app that was a meal in itself. Tacos were spot on perfect too. We finished up with some churros and they were really good and contagious too. The table next to ours saw it and ordered some too. No bullshit, this place blew me away and was a wonderful experience. This exactly the type of spot you want to stop in at. The killer corner joint. That's what this is. Their shirts say love is the ingredient and it shows. I can't wait to come back.